Dakota Sandras

Name: Dakota SandrasGrad Term: Spring 2014Hometowns: I grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, and went to high school in Palmdale, California. My family currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.High Schools: Desert ChristianAge: 21Major: Communication StudiesMinor: Business Marketing

Links

My Beach Experience:

My name is Dakota Sandras and this is myBeach Experience:

One of the best jobs I have ever had was being a campus tour guide at CSULB because I love bragging about our university. We are so lucky to be attending such a diverse campus in such a fun city and we have so many amazing opportunities at the tip of our fingers just because we are students here. I have felt both challenged and encouraged from my professors and my peers, and have gained valuable experience and lifelong friendships during my four years as a student. I am SO proud to be a 49er!

My Path to CSULB:

To be honest, I wasn’t originally planning on coming to CSULB. I had applied to the President’s Scholars program to appease my mom, was pretty sure I would not get into the program, and I was set on moving to Colorado with my family. However, when I got the call that I had received the full-ride scholarship, I accepted immediately. It felt good to have all my hard work in high school pay off and to have the financial burden lifted, but being a President’s Scholar has been a far greater gift than I could ever have imagined. I am so thankful that it brought me to CSULB because I cannot imagine my life anywhere else now, and I have made it a point to give back to the campus throughout my time here.

My Beach and Beyond:

While I am not entirely sure what my future holds, I know that I want to be in the non-profit sector and I would like to start looking for jobs in Colorado. Ideally, I see myself working in a multifaceted role, incorporating marketing, creative projects, and hands-on service, for an organization that is dedicated to serving people and the community. The most important thing to me is to believe in the mission of the company I find a career in, and to be passionate about what I do. I know I have been well-equipped at Long Beach State so I’m excited for the adventure of figuring out what lies ahead!

Favorites

Favorite Professor: It’s so hard to choose! We seriously have an all-star Communication Studies faculty. If I had to, I could probably narrow it down to my thesis professor, Dr. Kevin Johnson (Comm.), and two of my closest mentors, Dr. Pamela Kreiser (Comm.) and Michael Tomlin (Marketing).

Favorite Class: Another difficult question! I have loved just about every one of my Interpersonal Communication classes, especially Conflict Resolution and Intercultural Communication. I also had a blast in my Promotions class in the Marketing department because of the amazing real-word experiences our professor gave us.

Favorite Spot on Campus: Definitely commencement lawn. Upper campus is pretty packed, so it feels like an open oasis where students can just sit under the beautiful shady trees to read, nap, relax, paint, play music, or do whatever their hearts desire. It is such a peaceful place to me, and it feels like an escape that’s still right in the middle of all the action.

Activities and organizations: I’ve done my best to get involved in as many ways as I can throughout my time here, but there are a few organizations that I have especially dedicated myself too. I am a President’s Scholar, I’m in the University Honors Program and President’s Ambassadors Program, and I am very involved with my local church. I have also worked on campus with Alumni Relations, University Outreach, and the Bickerstaff Center for Student Athletes. In my free time I love traveling, hiking, crafting, country line dancing, and trying new foods.

Favorite Quote: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” - Helen Keller